Macrovision s TV Guide and Sunflower Broadband Collaborate on Set-Top . Box Clickstream Measurement

Box Clickstream Measurement 18/05/2008 12:00:00 Business Wire Macrovision Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ:MVSND) and leading independent cable operator Sunflower Broadband today announced the planned deployment of a set-top box clickstream measurement solution for its TV Guide Interactive(R) i-Guide(TM), one of the cable industry s most widely-deployed interactive programming guides (IPG).
The collaboration marks the first planned clickstream deployment for Macrovision(R) and Sunflower Broadband(TM) to collect valuable IPG usage data that can be used to make consumers television experience more enjoyable.
The IPG usage patterns of an anonymous sample of Sunflower Broadband customers will be collected to help Macrovision gain insight into how consumers use i-Guide and interact with their DVR and on demand services and in-guide advertising.


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PumpTop TV Poised for Growth

IRVINE, Calif. -- With nearly 6,000 LCD screens mounted on fuel pumps at more than 550 U.S. gas stations, PumpTop TV has emerged as one of the nation's largest gas station television networks, according to the company. In addition, the owner and operator of the network, AdtekMedia, along with its technology partner and manufacturer, Westinghouse Digital Electronics, are committed to building a national PumpTop TV network reaching more than 100 million gas consumers each month, according to the company. "We're installing PumpTop TV at an average of four new stations daily," Dick Paulsen, president of AdtekMedia, said in a statement. "Our commitment to grow this network is firm -- we will bring PumpTop TV to more than 1,100 gas stations in the largest U.S. markets before the end of the year." PumpTop TV can be found at gas stations in more than 40 major oil company brands across the country, according to the company.



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Misinformation abounds as digital TV shift nears

By now, most consumers are aware that some kind of switch is set for February that has to do with their televisions and digital signals.</p><p>But after that, degrees of knowledge vary wildly.</p><p>Consider Ann Thompson, who lives with her mother in Blue Springs. Thompson was caught up in the confusion about the difference between digital TV signals and high-definition TV sets.</p><p>But more than anything, Thompson, who works at an area law firm, wanted to make sure she and her mom aren't going to be misled by businesses seeking to sell TV products to people who may not be up to speed on the nuances of the digital age.</p><p>Then there's Kathlene Hawkins, who lives in downtown Kansas City. Hawkins bought a new TV in February that has a digital tuner and now has better reception than ever.</p><p>Many consumers are like Jim Jones of Pleasant Hill, who proudly proclaims that he “graduated from electronics school way back in the '60s.” Jones said he's been preparing for the switch for more than four years.</p><p>The “switch” is a government-mandated change in the way television programming is transmitted — from analog signals, which have been in use since the beginning of television, to digital technology.</p><p>Testing is to begin in September in Wilmington, N.C., with the rollout to the rest of the nation set for Feb.



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Jonathan Takiff: Clearing the air on digital TV converters

THE GIZMO: More on the digital TV conversion.

Last week's column scooped the nation with the first hands-on review of low-cost, digital TV tuners/converters.

These set-top boxes will become essential to receive over-the-air TV on older, pre-digital television sets next year, after broadcasters are required (on Feb. 17, 2009) to shut off their analog signals.

Not surprisingly, I got a flood of reader comments and questions. Today, let's deal with some of them.

Q: I applied early to the government [www.dtv2009.gov and 888-388-2009] and already have my two $40 rebate coupons to help me buy these digital converter boxes. The models I've seen in stores are selling for around $60, so my real cost will be $20. But wasn't somebody going to offer a box at $40?

A: That would be Dish Network, planning to sell boxes at a "slight loss" as a good-will gesture (and to get you thinking about upgrading to their satellite TV service).


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Suntronic Outdoor All-Weather LCD TVs

Summer is around the corner. You should start to think about moving your TV watching and video gaming outside. Suntronic offers a whole line of LCD HDTV sets that allow you to do just that.

The Suntronic GS product line features All-Weather and sunlight readable LCD technology.
Available LCD TVs include sizes between 46 and 102 inches (4 panels). These outdoor TVs operate in temperatures between -40 and 50 degrees Celsius, are IP65 water proof, have integrated heater and air conditioner and a high brightness LCD Panel.

Of course these All-Weather LCD TVs are intentend for professional use to display commercials or other information, but if you have the funds, why not place one in your garden.
The Suntronic LCD TVs are sold by iTech Company (site) in the United States.


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Ultrafast Internet nearly up to speed

Three-dimensional high-definition TV is ready, and viewing it is breathtaking. But will people like the technology enough to pay extra? And can it pay off for network operators?

Phone and cable companies, including Verizon Communications, hope so as they prepare to launch ultrafast Internet service that can run at 100 megabits per second in some markets.

"There is a business case for ultrabroadband service in markets with a very dense population — New York, Chicago, Paris — but as a market's population gets thinner, the business case gets weaker," said Robert Atkinson, research policy director for the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, a Columbia University-based center in New York City.

Network operators need to earn more than the $100 a month they get now from customers for Internet, phone and video service to make the investment of billions of dollars for network upgrades worth their while, said Atkinson, who recently addressed Chicago's branch of the Federal Communications Bar Association.


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TiVo, cable companies to offer digital adapters

PHILADELPHIA -- The cable industry said Monday that it's going to start offering adapters for TiVo Inc.'s high-definition digital video recorders with cable card slots so customers can resurrect channels that disappear when companies use new technology to save bandwidth.

Cable operators, especially Time Warner Cable Inc. and Cox Communications Inc., are aggressively rolling out switched-digital video technology.

Switched-digital technology frees up space for more channels by sending only those each customer selects, instead of streaming all channels to all customers.

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